P.A.M transport a good company

Well the yearly income didn't seem that great to me but...... for entry level it was okay. You just have to avoid the really slow repair shops.


Are you guys on E-logs now? How do you like them?

 

Have checked them out. Always looking

 

I started with PAM,I guess not bad for a starter company but I would not say they are great by no means. Waiting a day or two or three for loads suck and the company shops were horrible.

 

It was where I spent my first 2 years in the industry, but my experience with them probably isn't typical. Less than 6 months in, I had a dedicated run that had me home 4 nights per week, and no more than 1 night out at any time. Since I always had the same 5 stops on one end to get loaded, and the same 2 stops on the other end to get emptied and reloaded with the empty racks, I never had to wait....and my house was basically in the middle of the run, so that's where I'd stop en route. You learn who to talk to at what docks....and more importantly what to BS about with those people....and once I had that figured out it was easy to get in, get loaded, and get out again....even if there were other trucks waiting.

I was there when they were making the switch to automatics, though, and I HATE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS....so I stuck it out as long as I could, but once they stuck me in a truck with an autoshift, I was hating my job within a few months so I had to move on.

Heck, if they had kept their manual shifts, I still might be there....but I don't drive automatics. Not in cars, and certainly not in trucks. Shifting is part of driving...if you can't handle it, you shouldn't be behind the wheel.

Waiting for dispatch after you are empty is a problem I've experienced with EVERY company I have ever driven for OTR, so if that's your reason for disliking this or any other company you are with, you may not find it better at your next place of employment. Granted, I've never had that wait extend into the second or third day before...but then I can be pretty persistent on the phone with dispatch.

 

Is their entire fleet automatics?

 

Not anymore they are slowly switching back to manuals.

 

I am considering PAM or USA through Driver Solutions in IN. Any experiences with these?

 

From what I've heard tcmanuel, stay away from USA. I'm glad to see that PAM is a good choice. I'm looking forward to when I can quit this desk job and get on the road.

 

Pam is an open door. Turnover is high and that should tell you something. Expect to be treated rudely in most cases when you call in about an issue to most departments. Get used to waiting. Waiting for loads, waiting for repairs, waiting for answers. Communication is slow and is agravating. When you do call in expect to wait anywhere from 30 min to almost 2 hours depending on what you ae calling about. Worst of all they really dont seem to care if or when you get home fo requested time off. As far as pay, they have a lot of "unmentionable" deductions they take from your check and mileage pay is about the same as most companies.

All this may be simular in other companies in some ways. In all fairness, PAM can be a pleasant company to work for from time to time. Just have to learn to say no sometimes.
And yes, i do drive for them currently...